Israel: Netanyahu meets with staff as hospital awaits Israelis released from Diamond Princess

*BUG AT SOURCE*
W/S Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holding a press conference at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv
SOT, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister (Hebrew): "We hope that the Israelis that were finally released from the infected ship, after great efforts by the health ministry, Israel's government and foreign ministry, are not infected. Our policy is to prevent as much as possible or to delay as much as possible the virus from coming to Israel. Up until now we probably succeeded. There are complaints about over preparedness, I would rather instruct over preparedness than lack of preparedness."
W/S Netanyahu and other officials
SCRIPT
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope that Israeli citizens released from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship moored in the Japanese port of Yokohama "are not infected," while speaking at a press conference in the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
He stressed that the authorities have tried "to delay as much as possible the virus from coming to Israel," adding that "up until now we probably succeeded."
According to reports, 12 Israeli citizens who were aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship and who tested negative for the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, are expected to arrive back in Israel on Thursday. Upon the arrival, they will be stationed at the Sheba Medical Center for a 14-day quarantine.
The other three Israeli passengers who have been diagnosed with coronavirus will be transported to medical facilities and will continue their treatment in Japan.
Earlier on Wednesday, around 500 of Diamond Princess cruise ship passengers who tested negative for the coronavirus have begun disembarking from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The disembarkation of about 2,000 others who were kept on board is scheduled to take several days.
The Diamond Princess Cruise Ship was quarantined when it arrived in Yokohama early last week after it emerged that some passengers who disembarked in Hong Kong last month tested positive for the flu-like respiratory illness.
The coronavirus death toll now tops 2,000, with more than 75,000 are infected worldwide.
Mandatory Credit: Israeli GPO